Andhra, Orissa on alert as cyclone changes course

The threat to north Tamil Nadu receded on Tuesday with the severe cyclonic storm in the southeast Bay of Bengal moving in the west northwesterly direction towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. An alert has been sounded along the Orissa coast as well, weather officials said.

Hyderabad Meteorological Centre Director CVV. Bhadram said the cyclonic storm, after remaining stationary for more than 24 hours, was moving forward very slowly. On Tuesday evening it was located 650 km southeast of Machilipatnam.

“We have de-warned the north Tamil Nadu districts as the threat has receded for them. But we have alerted all the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh,” Bhadram said.

“From Wednesday afternoon there could be adverse weather in the coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh, with heavy rains and gales,” Bhadram added.

State Relief Commissioner D.C. Rosaiah said the collectors of all the nine coastal districts had been alerted and asked to be prepared for any eventuality.

People in the low-lying areas on the coast have been asked to move to safer places in case the cyclone crosses their areas. Fishermen too have been alerted and asked not to enter the sea for atleast the next 24 hours.

The district collectors have already opened control rooms to monitor the situation. A state control room will be opened on Wednesday.